18 Floors Above the Apocalypse

Chapter 375

Joining the military meant grueling training every single day. It was tough, no doubt, but as bona fide members of the Phoenix Project, we had our perks-food, shelter, and clothing were all provided.

Stella could see the worry etched on her friends' faces. With a wry smile, she said, "Jasper's still recovering from his injuries, and I was sick not too long ago. It's a miracle I even made it into the base. Plus, with Rosie and Cooper to look after, enlisting or doing manual labor isn't realistic. I'll give scavenging a shot, and if that doesn't pan out, we'll figure something else out."

Every family has its own set of challenges. Noticing their reluctance to join the military, Cody didn't push them. "Alright, as long as you've thought it through."

After some casual chit-chat, Cody got up to leave. "Stella, Jasper, we've got more training tonight, so we better head back."

Stella wanted to invite them to stay for dinner.

Cody and the others shook their heads. "We've got our meals and accommodations sorted at the mess hall. We ate before we came."

Stella walked them to the door. "Drop by whenever you can."

Angela stepped forward for a hug. "Take care of yourself, Stella, and let us know if you need anything."

Stella smiled, "Will do."

After saying their goodbyes and closing the door, Stella sat down to digest the conversation. Then she declared, "We need to get ourselves a submarine."

Sure, Arcadia had yachts and cruise ships, but if tectonic plate collisions got worse, a massive tsunami would be inevitable, and those vessels wouldn't stand a chance. The submarines used by the military for the Phoenix Project, however, were reliable.

You can never have too many escape options. Stella wished she could fill Arcadia to the brim with them.

Jasper did the math. "The rare metals we've stockpiled should be more than enough to trade for a sub."

They had been hoarding with the intention of bartering, and now, if these metals could be put to good use and they could acquire an escape vessel, why not?

But it had been nine years, and scavengers had turned the earth upside down searching for such metals; they couldn't be too cavalier about using them.

After dinner, instructing the kids to get some early rest, Stella and Jasper headed into Arcadia.

The containers they stored had to look the part-rusty and worn wasn't enough. They hammered and pounded them into deformity, hastening the rusting and dulling to fake the illusion of being long buried by earthquakes. Faking it wasn't a one-day job.

But as new scavengers, they couldn't just show up with rare metals and trade for a sub without raising suspicions.

quick breakfast and packing up their belongings, they drove to the central hall, where they traded tobacco and liquor for a metal detector and

with the harsh conditions outside the base's protective range, where they could be targeted by bandits or other scavengers at any

to get familiar with the local terrain and find a

made

beaten path of the base, was even more desolate than when

sake, Stella decided it was time to bring out the

without returning to base, so the trio, along with their dog, weren't in a hurry. They rested at the foot of the mountain for a day before getting acquainted with Lincoln. Old habits

it, they encountered scavengers looking for a

on the ground, the other

winner would take the

kicked up a cloud of dust

engine of their behemoth vehicle passed by, the scavengers were

"Holy cow, that's badass!"

dirt-covered figure suddenly leaped up, chasing after

thief had

his

roar of the engine drowned

in the rearview mirror, seemingly having run out of his

slightly.

was taken

Porras family, even if they'd left Griffith, would logically turn to an official base like Goldbridge, not end up at Kindle

skeptical. "Are

allowing her

beggar,

ugh, it did

chased them for hundreds of meters without giving up, even losing his shoes in

watched the rearview mirror intently-it really did look

off my ride, Bran's ghostly presence

urged, "Faster,

of decency; they couldn't just turn around and kill him.

floored it, and the vehicle sped along the post-apocalyptic

as Bran's figure grew smaller in the rearview mirror until it was just a dot, and then

mood was ruined, and she couldn't help but grumble, "Why would he leave a perfectly good official base to come to